How far do thieves go for the keys?

[MECHENG84]

A few months back by Brother in Law had his Toyota Hilux Pickup stolen, it was a 2017 plate and was in immaculate condition. The thieves broke in through the patio doors, managed to find the keys and off they went. CCTV shows them unlocking the doors, releasing the handbrake and pushing the truck away for a bit, we assume to start further down the road as to not attract attention.

My BiL was understandably furious, he normally leaves his keys in his pocket and puts them on one of the units in the bedroom before bed, but on this occasion he had left them on the kitchen side. Though this got me thinking, how far do you think these thieves would go once in the house for the keys?

Himself, wife and their 2 boys (aged 3 and 6) were asleep upstairs - The thieves were gong to break in regardless so I personally think them finding the keys reasonably easy and everyone being safe was the best outcome.

I do wonder though, would they have gone upstairs and threatened them for the keys if they couldn't find them?

[Greendubber]

How long is a piece of string?

You'll find that incidents range from sneaking in to easily take a key from a table to a family being tied up and threatened.

[CAPP0]

As above, there's no straight answer to this. Entirely depends on the risk/reward/determination/desperation and probably several other factors besides.

[Bill]

MECHENG84 said:

but on this occasion he had left them on the kitchen side.

I'd guess they were visible from a window and that's why they broke in.

[toon10]

If they have targeted the car and broke in then they are not opportunists so depending on the villains, they may well use as much violence as they deem necessary to get what they want.

I keep my keys in a faraday pouch to stop the low level criminals getting my signal but I keep the pouch easily accessible in my kitchen draw. I have my 3 year old upstairs and I don't want anyone rummaging around up there. If they are dangerous enough to break in for what they want, I'd rather they had a quick look, find the bloody key and get out. Insurance will cover the costs so rather a headache than my family put in danger.

[PixelpeepS3]

i'd say with absolutely no data to back me up - 95% of all key thefts are opportunistic - either seeing them through the window or finding them whilst ransacking the place,

So, 95% of the time, not that far.

the other 5 however, that'd be because your car has been 'ordered' by some oik, in which case they'd go fairly far (read: break in and threaten your children/partner with knives in front of you).

Put the car in the garage or park it outside a house that's not yours

[L0gan5]

My next door neighbour was broken into a couple of nights back. Looking at my CCTV it looks like they wanted their car, they went in via the side door, took the keys, purse etc then walked away from the property for a few minutes and then came back for the car. The car was found later that day burnt out a few miles away and a few other houses/cars done over that same night.

[LosingGrip]

Had a discussion about this at work recently. Colleague said that she takes her keys upstairs to stop people from stealing her car if they break in.

Personally I'd rather they found the keys quickly and didn't come snooping around my house. Cars can be replaced/repaired fairly easily compared to us!

[meatballs]

I'd leave them in the car if it didn't invalidate insurance. Last thing you want is someone breaking and entering when you are home.

[Brads67]

Best thing is to leave them somewhere a housbreaker will see them easy.

It's the only reason they break into a house now, and do you really want them waking you up to ask you ? cause they will.

[Fatball]

We had a gang local to where I work who a few years ago were putting a paving slab through the patio door windows of local houses even with the owners sat in the living room.

Window goes in, several males making threats for keys and then off they went. Eventually caught and got time but if you’re in the mindset of going in regardless then they’ll go to whatever lengths to get keys once inside. Also probably depends on the type/value of vehicle, it was a wealthy area being targeted.

[GTiWILL]

I leave all of the keys by our front door. I’d rather the thief be able to make a quick getaway than be bothering my wife and three kids.

Cars can be replaced but family can’t.

[andygo]

I had a new STI8 pinched. Only found out when we woke up in the morning to find my wifes Golf on the lawn having being moved to get tat the scooby.

They had tried unsuccessfully to get in via the patio doors and eventually had got in through the kitchen window.

They had even found my new owners manual by the side of an armchair and had left it near the back gate, obviously forgotten.

Got the car back as it had a tracker fitted. It had clearly been parked up as a test.

Funny hing was, they had smacked a kerb and ripped a tyre. They had put the spare on, but had fitted the damaged wheel back in the boot, and carefully replaced the jack and wheelbrace. Obviously nicked to order.

Found in Toxteth, Liverpool, 20 miles from my house, but not far from the ferry to Ireland where I'm confident it was destined to become a large part of a new rally car...

I never allowed the car back home, went to the repairers and then from there to the Lotus gararge where I swapped it for a new Elise , the thinking being they don't get used for rallying or getaway cas!

[MECHENG84]

Bill said:

I'd guess they were visible from a window and that's why they broke in.

No, you can't see their kitchen from the outside as they have an extension on the back of the house where the original window was.

[Short Grain]

Sorry, Not car thief related but I know of someone whose house was broken into whilst they were asleep in bed.

Took his flat screen, computers and tablet, and the change off his bedside cabinet! While he was asleep!!

What the fk would you do if you woke to a stranger staring at you in bed!?

Frightening! If they were seriously after your car and looked upstairs! Doesn't bare thinking about! Got to admit, it scared the crap out of me and it wasn't even me!!

[vaud]

GTiWILL said:

I leave all of the keys by our front door. I’d rather the thief be able to make a quick getaway than be bothering my wife and three kids.

Cars can be replaced but family can’t.

This. I leave ours out of sight from the window but easily accessible and visible once in the front door.

(victim of 2 thefts with kids etc)

[Davie_GLA]

In before all of the company directors who dominate the stairs get back from their power showers...

How far they will go is entirely how much of a hero you feel like being.

I have a keybox in the kitchen screwed to the wall that says KEYS. replacing a bust lock and a call to the various insurers is much more attractive than visiting your family in hospital.

Providing you have the correct insurance in place then they can do what they like. If you don't have theft cover then you take your chances, but it's just a car.

[anonymous-user]

Short Grain said:

Sorry, Not car thief related but I know of someone whose house was broken into whilst they were asleep in bed.

Took his flat screen, computers and tablet, and the change off his bedside cabinet! While he was asleep!!

What the fk would you do if you woke to a stranger rat staring at you in bed!?

Again not car related but I left a sandwich on that Table in Nepal last year and the following morning half of it and the clingfilm had disappeared whilst we slept and that was only on the first night of the trek never knew a thing about it

[Gareth1974]

I leave our keys on the top step of the stairs, a scrote with the moral compass not to go upstairs would give up and leave empty handed, the hardcore type who’d go in to your bedroom to take them off you in person would get what they want before reaching me.

[vaud]

Gareth1974 said:

I leave our keys on the top step of the stairs, a scrote with the moral compass not to go upstairs would give up and leave empty handed, the hardcore type who’d go in to your bedroom to take them off you in person would get what they want before reaching me.

No way. I don't want any scrote in the house, let alone upstairs. Just leave them downstairs out of immediate sight of the windows but easy to find once through the door.

My insurance was fine with that.